Cornwall Badminton 1st team off to a flying start

Cornwall – 11,  Avon – 4

A wet and windy day outside saw Cornwall’s top badminton players start their season with a fine win over the travelling Avon team, at Polkyth Leisure Centre at the weekend.

It was advantage Cornwall right from the start, as Avon came with only two ladies, giving the home team a 3-0 boost before a shuttle was hit.

But the Cornish single players didn’t need any extra help as all 4 stormed to victories in impressive style, with new County champions Shane Maton and Rose Willis seeing off their opponents, quickly followed by James Whetter and Jo Philp with equal power and precision.

The Avon doubles teams set about fighting back, and the solo ladies pair were victorious against both of our women’s pairs, although Jo and Rose were desperately unlucky to lose their game after 3 exciting ends, and a final questionable line call. Emily James and Vicki Thomas came up against a determined pair who gave no quarter in 2 ends.

The mens results were split down the middle, both teams winning 2 games, with only one going the full distance, when James and Guy Michell, the experienced duo just losing out in a close fought battle. The newer pairing of Shane and Ross Lashbrook had looked good against the top Avon men, but struggled more against the second pair.

So the match was already won going into the mixed, but at least another game was needed for maximum points, and James and Jo duly obliged, but not before a slight scare in the second end at 12-18 down, before finally seeing off the Avon opponents 22-20.  Shane and Vicki followed this up with the last victory of the day, going to 3 ends but winning in fine style in the third as they outran and outsmashed the tiring Avon pair.

Cornwall team –

Shane Maton, James Whetter, Guy Michell, Ross Lashbrook, Rose Willis, Jo Philp, Emily James, Vicki Thomas.

Cornwall 2 vs Wiltshire 3

Another season, another chance for promotion from the league that has frustrated the second team on so many occasions…To recap last season our team fought tirelessly throughout the year only to have missed promotion by the closest of margins. Could this season see the seconds get the result they deserve?

Our first match saw the team take on Wiltshire 3 home at Polkyth. A number of new faces debuted the fixture, including several fine up-and-comers from the county junior pack. Men’s singles saw newcomer Jake Brazewell and Dave Harrington representing Cornwall, with Hester Luke and Amy Polglase taking on their female counterparts. A hard fought match saw Jake lose his first singles, with Dave winning in three, notching our first rubber of the season. Not to be outdone both girls saw off their opposition in straight games.

Due to injuries and other reasons, our double pairings saw the emergence of modified partnerships, some that had yet to be tested in competitive action. Kahoo Tse saw himself combined with new partner Tony Clark, whilst Dave found himself playing alongside Chris Glasson. The doubles saw our men continue their fine form from last season, beating both Wiltshire pairings comfortably in straight games. For the ladies, Lynda Beer found herself reunited with old club partner Laura Harper and Hester pairing with previous juniors partner Kellen Moore. The Wiltshire ladies’ doubles were expected to put up a fight, their 1st pairing having not lost against Cornwall during both meetings last season. Much to Cornwall’s delight our ladies continued where the men finished, beating Wiltshire 1st pair and taking 3 of 4 rubbers, Hester and Kellen losing a tightly fought 3 ender. 

Entering the mixed doubles winning 10-2 Cornwall had safely secured the maximum 3 points from the match. Three new pairings saw Dave & Lynda, Kahoo & Amy and Chris & Laura attempt to earn Cornwall’s first 13-2 victory. A comfortable win for Chris & Laura, followed by a tight contest involving Kahoo & Amy found Cornwall notching an additional two rubbers. Another tense contest with Dave & Lynda saw Wiltshire snatch their third rubber of the match. 
An inspiring win for Cornwall 2 demonstrated the depth of ability within the Cornish county squad. A particularly impressive debut for juniors Kellen and Amy competing at senior level. Today’s performance is hopefully a sign of things to come for a re-vamped (and rejuvenated) Cornwall team.

Cornwall 2 vs Wiltshire 3    12 - 3 

For full results of the match follow this link

Cornwall Badminton County Championships

NEW CHAMPIONS

The cream of Cornwall’s badminton players converged on Polkyth Leisure Centre on 28th/29th September for the two day annual Championships, entertaining the many spectators with exciting play and high standards. Once again, there was a large entry from Cornwall Youth Badminton’s fast improving young players, showing the excellent foundation that Cornish Badminton is built upon.

Two new singles champions emerged victorious on the first day, Shane Maton and Rose Willis, both coming from under the shadows of the number 1 seeds and holding champions, James Whetter and Jo Philp.

Ladies & Mens Singles Winners & Runners up

Rose had narrowly lost to Jo last year, but finally triumphed for the first time and took a deserved victory over Hester Luke in the final with her consistent and steady play. Jo had been beaten in a tight game in the quarter finals by 15 year old Kellen Moore in the first shock of the day, after Kellen had narrowly beaten Emily James in the first round. Kellen then came up against Hester in the semis, and this turned out to be a 3 ender too far, with Hester’s power and precision proving too much for the younger player.

Then the second surprise of the weekend came in the mens singles, when defending champion, the experienced James Whetter was knocked out by the speedy, skilful Kris Jasper in the semi finals. The top 4 seeds had made it comfortably through to the semis, with Ross Lashbrook losing to Shane Maton in the other half of the draw. The battle of the left handers in the final saw Shane’s fitness and speed around the court triumph over Kris in two ends, and he re-gained the title he had won 2 years ago.

The ladies doubles was played on the first day following the singles, and this was another exhibition of cool, mature play from the promising young pair of Kellen Moore and Amy Polglaze, who reached the final by knocking out the number 2 seeds, Emily James and Vicki Thomas. But they were no match for the strength and determination of Jo Philp and Rose Willis who retained their title with style in the final.

Ladies Doubles Runners up & Winners 

The second day saw more great badminton, this time with the men’s doubles and the mixed, when the tension and excitement was notched up again.

The biggest crowd ever seen for a mixed doubles match was treated to the best final of the weekend, when first and second seeds James Whetter/Jo Philp and Shane Maton/Vicki Thomas clashed in 3 close fought ends. Some stunning net play by Jo and unplayable service returning from Shane had the crowd gasping and enthralled, before James and Jo finally retained their crown. Before this, both semi-finals had been tight affairs over 3 ends which could have gone either way, as new pairings of Guy Michell/Emily James and Tom Lyle/Rose Willis pushed the top seeds all the way before just losing out.

With the final event the men’s doubles competition, the spectators were once again treated to some fast, attacking badminton and great defensive play on show. Once more, the top 2 seeds were largely untroubled on their route through to the final, which saw James and Guy take on Tom and Ross in a repeat of the previous year’s final. This year James and Guy proved too strong for the younger pair, and they won in 2 ends with a combination of sheer power and deft cross court play.

Results:

Men’s singles – Shane Maton bt Kris Jasper 21/14 22/20

Ladies’ singles – Rose Willis bt Hester Luke 21/17 21/12

Men’s doubles – James Whetter/Guy Michell bt Tom Lyle/Ross Lashbrook 21/19 21/14

Ladies’ doubles – Jo Philp/Rose Willis bt Kellen Moore/Amy Polglaze 21/13 21/15

Mixed doubles – James Whetter/Jo Philp bt Shane Maton/Vicki Thomas 11/21 22/20 21/16

Plate result - winners

Mens singles – Chris Glasson                 

Ladies singles – Daphne Luke

Mens doubles – Bob Bell/Nick Phelps  

Ladies’ doubles – Beth Wotton/Beth Rich

Mixed doubles – Lee Chapple/Hester Luke